Would love to see a 6 round Model 36, or Model. 60 in steel J-frame, blued or SS. The small weight increse of an additional round would be worth it to me. Did'nt "retired" the Colt Detective have 6rds?

The Colt Detective Special was a significantly larger gun than a J-frame; it approaches K-frame size. If you enlarge a J-frame enough to fit 6 shots in .357" caliber, you get... a K-frame.

Best bet for a 6-shot J-frame is the new .327 Federal Magnum cartridge. There have been plenty of 6-shot J-frame .32s produced, such as the 30, 31, 630, and 631. There have already been a couple of "Wish List" threads about a .327Mag J-frame, and the consensus is that the .327Mag should easily fit in the J-Mag frame.

Great info, I guess i'll wait to see the .327, is it goining to be one of those heavy Ruger's?. Is Smith planing on a version?

The only gun currently available in .327Mag is the Ruger SP-101 with a 3" barrel.

Nobody really knows for sure whether S&W is planning a .327Mag J-frame, but it would surprise the heck out of me if they're not. It's so natural- the J-frame's cylinder diameter is derived from the I-frame, which was designed as a 6-shot .32.

Is the .327 worthy for carry/defense?

quote:

Originally posted by JBONES:
Is the .327 worthy for carry/defense?

Decide for yourself:
http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-SP101-327.htm
http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammunition/st327_110707/

I think I would really want & like a 327 Fed. Mag. in a 340PD, but as it is, 5-shot...That +/-.015" extra meat on the chamber ain't a gona hurt a thing, where as 6 shots would require a larger cyl./frame... Thats what I think, but I am not a real knodgeable wheel gun shooter, but as more of a rifle person, the largest rifle I own is a 6.5x284 (.264 Cal.), smallest being a .17 Rem., and it is in an XP-100 S.S. custom pistol... Yep, I'd have to trade in my 340PD 357 for a 340PD 5-shot 327 FM, maybe I am just recoil shy...lol...
Have a good one...XPman...

I just got the new issue of "American Rifleman" in the mail yesterday, and it contains a very thorough and interesting analysis of the .327Mag cartridge and the new SP-101. Using SP-101's, they did a comparison test of .357Mag, .327Mag, .38Spl+P, .38Spl, and .32 Long, complete with velocity and energy numbers!

The highlights:

The .327Mag generated essentially the same velocity (~1,300 fps) as the .357Mag out of the short test barrels!

The .327Mag thoroughly spanked the .38Spl+P in both velocity and muzzle energy.

The .327Mag's recoil impact basically splits the difference between .357Mag and .38Spl+P. This makes sense- a 115gr projectile @ 1,300 fps is going to generate recoil no matter how you slice it. In other words, it hits hard enough that a .327Mag S&W Airweight is NOT going to be a gun for the recoil-shy.

OTOH I still think that a .327Mag Airweight has a place in the S&W lineup, but make mine steel.